porter's journal. 



around to the westward, and increased to a gale. Got the 

 ship under snug sail, and secured our masts, by setting up 

 the rigging, which being new, had stretched considerably. 

 The ship being very deep, we found her unusually labour- 

 some and uncomfortable : her straining, occasioned by her 

 deep rolling, opened her water-ways, and kept the birth- 

 deck full of water, damaged a great deal of our provisions 

 stowed on it, and wet all the bedding and clothes of the 

 crew ; found also the coal-hole full of water ; found a leak 

 somewhere between the cut-water and stem, but in other 

 rfespects the ship was tight : for, after scuttling the birth- 

 deck and bulk-head of the coal-hole, we could easily keep 

 her free by pumping a few minutes every two hours. 



Previous to leaving the river, the crew had been put on 

 allowance of half a gallon of water each man per day ; and 

 being desirous of making our provisions hold out as long as 

 possible, having views, at the same time, with regard to 

 the health of the crew, I caused the allowance of bread to 

 be reduced one half, and issued in lieu of the remainder, 

 half a pound of potatoes, or the same quantity of apples. 

 Every other article of provisions was reduced one third, 

 excepting rum, of which the full allowance was served out 

 raw to the cook of each mess, (the crew being divided into 

 messes of eight, and a cook allowed to each,) who was ac- 

 countable for its faithful distribution. For the undrawn 

 provisions, the purser's steward was directed to issue due- 

 bills, with assurances on my part that they should be paid 

 the amount on our arrival in port. Orders were given to 

 lose no opportunity of catching rain-water for the stock, of 

 which we had a large quantity on board, every mess in the 

 ship being supplied with pigs and poultry. The allowance 

 of candles was reduced one half, and economy established 

 respecting the consumption of wood and the expenditure of 

 the ship's stores. Habits of cleanliness and care with respect 

 to clothing were strongly recommended to the officers and 

 crew. I now gave a general pardon for all offences com- 

 mitted on board ; recommended the strictest attention to 

 the discipline of the ship ; held out prospects of reward to 

 those who should be vigilant in the performance of their 

 duty ; and gave assurances that the first man I was under 

 the necessity of punishing should receive three dozen 

 lashes ; expressing a hope, however, that punishment du- 



